AC T I V I T Y

Advent Prayer Chain

MATERIALS NEEDED

strips of purple or pink construction

paper, ten for each child

markers or crayons

several staplers

1. Explain that praying for others is one way we follow the Prince of Peace,
Jesus. Tell the children that Advent is a perfect time to make prayer a
priority.

2. Tell the group that today they will make an Advent prayer chain. Explain
that the prayer chain will help them count down each day until Christmas
but also remind them of people they’d like to pray for.

3. Give each child ten long strips of construction paper. Instruct the children
to complete each strip by writing the name of a person for whom they want
to pray in a special way during Advent. Tell the children that they can write
a description if they don’t know the person’s name (such as someone they
see at church).

24 Inspire! Volume 2, Issue 2

 4. Have the children staple one strip together so that it forms a circle.
Show them how to make a chain by looping a second strip through
the first and stapling it into a circle, and so on. Continue until their
chains have ten links. Assist each child in adjusting the band
to fit comfortably around their head. Then have them tape or
staple the ends together.

Process the Activity

• Tell the children that they can
continue adding to their Advent
prayer chains at home until they have
one chain for each day of Advent.
• Lead a discussion as the children
work on their prayer chains, asking
them where they could keep their
chains to remember to pray and
count down to Christmas.

This activity is adapted from the Advent

chapter of the Grade 5 Teacher Guide in
the Discover! Finding Faith in Life program.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
DISCOVER! FINDING FAITH IN LIFE
AND ITS COMPONENTS:
ARE YOU AT A PARISH?
SMP.ORG/DISCOVERPARISH

ARE YOU AT A SCHOOL?

SMP.ORG/DISCOVERSCHOOL

smp.org/inspire 25